Rikako Kobayashi

Rikako Kobayashi (小林 里歌子, Kobayashi Rikako; born 21 July 1997) is a Japanese professional football player who plays as a midfielder for Tokyo Verdy Beleza the Japan national team. She is the sister of footballer Seigo Kobayashi.

Rikako Kobayashi
小林 里歌子

Kobayashi with the North Carolina Courage in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Rikako Kobayashi
Date of birth	(1997-07-21) 21 July 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Tokyo Verdy Beleza
Number	20
Youth career
2013–2015	Tokiwagi Gakuen High School LSC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2023	Tokyo Verdy Beleza	72	(36)
2023–2024	North Carolina Courage	0	(0)
2024–	Tokyo Verdy Beleza
Total		25	(22)
International career‡
2014	Japan U-17	5	(2)
2019–	Japan	16	(4)
Medal record Nippon TV Beleza Winner Nadeshiko League 2016 Winner Nadeshiko League 2017 Winner Nadeshiko League 2018 Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2016 Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2018 Winner Empress's Cup 2017 Winner Empress's Cup 2018 Representing  Japan AFC U-19 Women's Championship 2015 China FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2014 Costa Rica AFC U-16 Women's Championship 2013 China
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of March 21, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of December 17, 2019

Club career

Kobayashi was born in Hyogo Prefecture on 21 July 1997. She attended and played for Tokiwagi Gakuen High School, which competed in the second-division Challenge League. She led Tokiwagi Gakuen, the only high school competing in senior league competition at the time, to its first and only third-division Challenge League championship in 2015^[1] as the league's top scorer^[2] and most valuable player.^[2] She also won the 2015 AFC young player of the year award.^[3]

She joined L.League club Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2016.^[4] However, she could not play in her first two seasons due to injury and debuted in the 2018 season.^{[citation needed]}

On 17 July 2023, North Carolina Courage of the American National Women's Soccer League announced their signing of Kobayashi for a two-year contract through the 2024 NWSL season, with an option for an additional year.^[5][6] After failing to make a professional appearance for North Carolina due to injury, the club and Kobayashi mutually agreed to terminate her contract on 21 March 2024.^[7]

National team career

In 2013, Kobayashi was selected in the Japan U-16 national team for 2013 AFC U-16 Championship. She scored 7 goals and became a top scorer. Japan team also won the championship. In 2014, Kobayashi was selected in Japan U-17 national team for 2014 U-17 World Cup.^[8] She played 5 matches and scored 2 goals, and Japan won the championship.

In 2015, Kobayashi was selected Japan U-19 national team for 2015 AFC U-19 Championship. Japan won the championship and she was selected Best players award. Although Japan qualified for the 2016 U-20 World Cup, she was not selected to the Japan team for the tournament due to injury.^{[citation needed]}

In February 2019, Kobayashi was selected Japan national team for SheBelieves Cup. At this tournament, on 27 February, she debuted against United States.^[9]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 June 2023

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[a]		League Cup[b]		Continental[c]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Nippon TV Beleza	2016	Nadeshiko League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2017	Nadeshiko League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2018	Nadeshiko League	15	3	5	1	9	1	—		29	5
	2019	Nadeshiko League	16	11	5	5	2	0	2	1	23	16
	2020	Nadeshiko League	14	13	5	6	—		—		19	19
	2021–22	WE League	9	3	2	1	—		—		11	4
	2022–23	WE League	18	6	4	2	0	0	—		22	8
	Total		72	36	21	15	11	1	2	1	106	53
North Carolina Courage	2023	NWSL	0	0	—		0	0	—		0	0
Career Total			72	36	21	15	11	1	2	1	106	53

1. Includes Empress's Cup
2. Includes Nadeshiko League Cup, NWSL Challenge Cup
3. Includes AFC Women's Club Championship

International

As of match played 23 February 2023

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Japan	2019	12	4
	2020	0	0
	2021	2	0
	2022	0	0
	2023	2	0
Total		16	4

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kobayashi goal.

List of international goals scored by Rikako Kobayashi

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	3 March 2019	Nissan Stadium, Nashville, United States	Brazil	2–1	3–1	2019 SheBelieves Cup
2.	4 April 2019	Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps, Auxerre, France	France	1–1	1–3	Friendly
3.	6 October 2019	IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka, Japan	Canada	4–0	4–0	Friendly
4.	11 December 2019	Busan Asiad Main Stadium, Busan, South Korea	Chinese Taipei	3–0	9–0	2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship

Honours

Tokyo Verdy Beleza

• Nadeshiko League: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Empress's Cup: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
• Nadeshiko League Cup: 2016, 2018, 2019
• AFC Women's Club Championship: 2019

Individual

• WE League Outstanding Players Award: 2022–23